Strawberry plant named ‘BG-3.324’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-3.324’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BG-3.324’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its early fruit production, moderate to strongly expressed core cavity, medium to light yellow green foliage, orange red to red fruit color, and very large fruit size.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘BG-3.324’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-3.324’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1257’ (a non-patented selection) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of 2005. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BG-3.324’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-3.324’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Early fruit production;     -   2. Moderate to strongly expressed core cavity;     -   3. Medium to light yellow green foliage;     -   4. Orange red to red fruit color; and     -   5. Very large fruit size.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-3.324’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-3.324’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Marketable yield 1,149 1,080 (gm/plant) Fruit predominant Conical Ranges from conical to almost shape cylindrical Fruit size Very large Ranges from medium to large 50% of plants Ranges from early Ranges from medium to early with ripe fruit to very early Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to large Expression of Ranges from Moderate hollow center moderate to strong Shape of the base Obtuse Acute of the terminal leaflet Fruiting truss Medium Weak anthocyanin intensity Fruiting truss Medium Strong pubescence

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘BG-3.324’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-1257’ and ‘BG-1975’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES ‘BG-633’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ No. 13,320) ‘BG-1445’ Marketable 1,149 628 1,080 yield (gm/plant) Fruit size Very large Ranges from Ranges from medium medium to large to large Plant size Medium Medium Ranges from medium to large Fruit color Ranges from Red Ranges from orange orange red to red red to red

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-3.324’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-3.324’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-3.324’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘BG-3.324’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-3.324’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-3.324’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-3.324’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2010 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from five years of data collected from the 2007 through 2011 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-3.324’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Color of mature RHS 45B RHS 45A fruit Ranges from orange Ranges from orange red to red to red red Color of internal RHS 45A RHS 44A flesh Dark red Medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.7 4.5 Fruit width (cm) 4.0 3.9 Fruit length/width 1.20 1.14 ratio Ranges from slightly Slightly longer than broad longer than broad to much longer than broad Calyx diameter 4.3 5.2 (cm) Average fruit 28.5 26.6 weight (gm) Achene color, RHS 153B RHS 152D shaded side Yellow green group Yellow green group Achene color, RHS 184A RHS 183A sun-exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group Achenes per berry 364 300 Achene weight 0.60 0.67 (mg) Marketable fruit 1,149 1,080 yield (gm/plant) Fruit size Very large Ranges from medium to large Predominant fruit Conical Ranges from conical to shape almost cylindrical Difference in Moderate Ranges from slight to shapes between moderate primary and secondary fruit Band without Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow achenes Unevenness of Ranges from weak to Weak fruit surface medium Evenness of fruit Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly uneven color uneven to even to even Fruit glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of Ranges from below Ranges from below surface to achenes surface to level with level with surface surface Insertion of calyx In basin In basin Attitude of calyx Ranges from collapsing Spreading to spreading Size of calyx in Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly larger to relation to fruit smaller to same size much larger diameter Adherence of Strong Very strong calyx Firmness of fruit Medium Ranges from medium to skin strong Firmness of fruit Firm Medium flesh Keeping quality Ranges from good to Good moderate Distribution of red Marginal and central Marginal and central color of the flesh Hollow center Ranges from moderate Moderate expression to strong Fruit flavor Good Very good Soluble solids 8.4 8.6 (% brix) Time of first Ranges from very early Ranges from early to medium flowering to early Time of first Ranges from very early Ranges from early to medium harvesting to early Harvest period Late December to mid Early January to late May May Type of bearing Not remontant Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Plant height (cm) 19.0 23.0 Plant spread (cm) 25.5 26.1 Plant size Medium Ranges from large to medium Plant habit Globose Globose Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Medium Ranges from medium to strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 146D Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin RHS 181A RHS 182A coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin Strong Weak intensity Average stolon Ranges from medium to Medium quantity many Stolon diameter at 3.4 3.1 bract (mm) Stolon pubescence Medium Strong Attitude of hairs Upwards Slightly outward

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ Pat. No. 17,725) Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 146B RHS 146B Ranges from light Ranges from light yellow yellow green to green to medium yellow medium yellow green green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Shape in cross section Slightly concave to flat Slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering Medium Ranges from weak to medium Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from weak to medium Number of leaflets 3 3 Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 6.9 7.0 Width (cm) 6.3 6.2 Length/width ratio 1.09 1.13 Ranges from as long Ranges from as long as as broad to longer than broad to longer than broad broad Serrations/leaf 16.8 20.8 Leaf Size Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to to small small Shape of base Obtuse Acute Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Petiole: Petiole color RHS 144B RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 14.0 15.5 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.2 3.7 Petiolule color RHS 144B RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 7.6 11.7 Petiole pubescence Heavy Heavy Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Strongly outward Stipule: Color RHS 146A RHS 146C Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration RHS 58A RHS 61B Red purple group Red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak Length (mm) 13.0 16.0 Width (mm) 10.3 10.1

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Anthocyanin RHS 181C RHS 181C coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin Medium Weak intensity Length at maturity 26.4 28.6 (cm) Position relative to Ranges from level with Ranges from level with to foliage to above the foliage above the foliage Pubescence Medium Strong Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C White group White group Sepal color RHS 137B RHS 138A Green group Green group Corolla diameter (mm) 29.8 27.7 Calyx diameter (mm) 34.6 38.8 Petal length (mm) 11.0 10.7 Petal width (mm) 11.6 10.5 Petal length/width ratio .95 1.02 Petals/flower 6.4 6.3 Sepal length (mm) 13.5 15.5 Sepal width (mm) 5.5 5.5 Sepal length/width ratio 2.43 2.81 Sepals/flower 12.4 12.6 Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger corolla Size of inner calyx Ranges from Ranges from smaller to same relative to outer calyx smaller to same Relative position of Overlapping Overlapping petals

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible spider mite Powdery mildew Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘BG-3.324’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 